Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
03ABUJA1379
2003-08-13 16:18:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Abuja
Cable title:  

WARRI CRISIS UPDATE 13AUG03

Tags:  EPET PINS ASEC PGOV PHUM NI 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L ABUJA 001379 

SIPDIS


E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/13/2013
TAGS: EPET PINS ASEC PGOV PHUM NI
SUBJECT: WARRI CRISIS UPDATE 13AUG03


REF: A. ABUJA 1328

B. ABUJA 1354

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABUJA 001379

SIPDIS


E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/13/2013
TAGS: EPET PINS ASEC PGOV PHUM NI
SUBJECT: WARRI CRISIS UPDATE 13AUG03


REF: A. ABUJA 1328

B. ABUJA 1354


1.(U) Classified by Counselor James Maxstadt for reasons 1.5
(b) and (d).


2.(C) A Warri-based member of U.S. NGO "IFESH" informed
Corporate Responsibility Officer (CRO) late August 12 of a
new attack on Gbomwei, an Ijaw village in the Warri area.
The attack, reportedly launched by Itsekiri militants, began
at 5:30pm local August 12. Gbomwei is near the Warri
refinery, within eyesight of Warri town, and had been
attacked by Itsekiris on August 2. (Ref A). Delta State
Police Commissioner Charles Akaya confirmed the August 12
attack in a phone conversation August 13, but could not
confirm a local press report (Daily Times) of 10 deaths in
Gbomwei and an additional attack the same day on a second
Ijaw village.


3.(C) CRO spoke with Ijaw national leader Chief Edwin K.
Clark, who stated that he would meet with the leaders of the
Ijaw militant group "FNDIC" on August 13 and urge them not to
retaliate against the Itsekiri. In a separate conversation
with CRO, Ijaw Youth Council activist Dimieari Von Kemedi
stated that he had relayed a message to his colleagues in
FNDIC urging them not to be provoked by this attack. Von
Kemedi opined that an Ijaw counter-attack is precisely what
the Itsekiri seek in order to precipitate intervention by
the Nigerian military.


4.(C) On a separate subject, Shell appears to be closely
involved in the Nigerian military's plans for a large-scale
deployment in the Warri area, according to Chevron's security
advisor, Hamish MacDonald. This tracks with the recent
revelation from Shell's Security manager in Warri that Shell
is providing the army with helicopters for reconnaissance.
(ref B)




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